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| Humane Interactive
Knowledge Exchange (HIKE) Scenario 04-08: Cattle in Chute and
Drive Alley |
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The Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act of 1978 [7 USC 1901 - 1906] states that the handling and slaughtering of livestock are to be carried out only by humane methods. The Federal Meat Inspection Act [21 USC 601 et seq.] authorizes Federal Meat Inspectors to inspect, verify compliance, and enforce humane methods of handling and slaughtering of livestock so as to prevent needless suffering of animals. FSIS personnel verify that an establishment is meeting these requirements by performing procedure 04C02 daily and recording the results on the procedure schedule for each inspection shift. They also should record the time spent verifying human handling and slaughter activities in the Humane-handling Activities Tracking System (HATS).
The following references should be used when studying this HIKE:
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You are the IIC in a small cattle slaughter and processing
operation. While you are performing ante mortem inspection, you
decide to verify that animals are treated humanely (under
Category IV of the Humane-handling Activities Tracking System
(HATS) as per instruction in FSIS Notice 16-08). Upon
completion, you also decide to verify that the establishment has
made water accessible to cattle in holding pens (HATS category III).
You know that the regulations require that animals have access
to water in the holding pens. Specifically, 9 CFR 313.2(e)
states, "Animals shall have access to water in all holding pens
and, if held longer than 24 hours, access to feed. There shall
be sufficient room in the holding pen for animals held overnight
to lie down." In addition, you realize that
9 CFR 313.1
makes a distinction between pens, driveways, and ramps.
You observe cattle in all the holding pens and verify that they
have access to water in all pens. However, at 12:24 PM, toward
the end of the lunch period, you observe that cattle are in the
drive alley and in the single file chute that leads to the knock
box. You determine that these cattle have been in the drive
alley and single file chute since 12:00 PM, and you know that
water is not accessible to cattle in these areas. However, the
drive alley and single file chute are under cover, and you
observe that cattle are not crowded, they show no signs of
stress or discomfort, and the temperature is 70° F.
You are aware that the establishment has developed a written
program, using the systematic approach, for humanely handling
and slaughtering cattle. This program describes how the
establishment will handle cattle during lunch and break periods.
The procedure is that during a break (or the lunch period), if
there are cattle in the drive alley or single file chute, they
will be adequately spaced to avoid any discomfort, stress, or
injury. However, if the establishment encounters an extended
delay more than an hour in the slaughter operation, the
establishment's handling procedures change. The handling
procedure then directs that establishment employees provide
the cattle with water in the single file chute and the drive
alley or move them to the holding pens with a minimum of
excitement and discomfort to the animals.
Discussion:
Establishments may include in their procedures for humane handling
a period of time after which water will be provided to animals being
held in the drive alley or single file chute. In the absence of a
specified period, you need to consider whether the establishment
considers relevant factors in deciding whether to give animals water.
Some of these factors include amount of time in the chute or alley,
whether the animals are adequately spaced, whether the chute or alley
is covered, the outside temperature, the age of the animals, and the
physical and health condition of the animals. Inspection program
personnel should determine compliance for each situation on a case
by case basis after examining all the applicable facts and conditions
that are relevant to a determination under 9 CFR 313.2(e).
Conclusion:
You consider all of the factors that you observed, and based on
the cattle being under a roof; not being crowded; showing no
sign of stress or discomfort; the cattle not being left in the
drive alley and single file chute for an inordinate period of
time; and the establishment following its humane handling plan,
you determine that the cattle in the drive alley and single file
chute are not being treated inhumanely. The single file chute
and the drive alley are not considered as holding pens in this
situation. Therefore, the establishment is in compliance with
requirements in 9 CFR 313.2(e).
Note:
- Time spent verifying that animals are treated humanely
should be entered into HATS under Category III and Category
IV.
- The Inspection System Procedure (ISP) code 04C02 in
Performance Based Inspection System (PBIS) is checked as
performed (acceptable).
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Access the HIKE Scenario home page and review previously posted
HIKE's from:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Employees/HIKE/index.asp
HIKE is a service of the FSIS Policy Development Division and DVMS
to foster awareness and regulatory compliance for welfare of livestock.
It is important that everyone understands that HIKE and the information
herein is intended for the use of all field employees and to be
shared with plant management.
If questions pertaining to any of the scenarios, or answers provided
on HIKE are not resolved through discussions within the work-group
or with the supervisor, they should be submitted to
Hike@fsis.usda.gov.
Last Modified:
August 19, 2008
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